For the first time since the All Progressives Congress (APC), Lagos State Chapter has been enmeshed in a succession battle, the state Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has warned that the plan of some party leaders to edge him out of the governorship race would no doubt jeopardise the re-election bid of President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo. Ambode also revealed that his main challenger, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, was improper and unfit to govern Lagos, noting that he had been arrested and detained for months in the United States for spending fake dollars in a night club and that he had gone for rehabilitation at Gbagada General Hospital.

Resignation: Buhari Reshuffles Cabinet, Replaces ‘Mama Taraba’

President Muhammadu Buhari effected a minor cabinet reshuffle with the appointment of Hajiya Aisha Abubakar, the Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment to take over the Ministry of Women Affairs. The directive followed the resignation of Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan (Mrs), popularly known as ‘Mama Taraba’, as Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development from Buhari’s cabinet. Buhari accepted her resignation on Sunday, immediately he got back from the United Nation’s General Assembly.

Saraki, Ekweremadu Congratulate Nigerians on 58th Independence

The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, have congratulated Nigerians on the occasion of the nation’s 58th Independence Anniversary. While Saraki urged Nigerians to ensure a more vibrant, constructive and patriotic citizen participation in the governance of the country, Ekweremadu harped on free and fair general election in 2019. Saraki, in an independence message issued by his Media Adviser Yusuph Olaniyonu, noted that one of the key reasons for the non-realisation of the dreams of the founding fathers who fought for the nation’s independence from the colonial government was because the citizens failed to seize control of the fortunes and future of the country while allowing sentiments to determine the choice of leaders and what national objectives should entail.

Ambode’s Allegation Against Me Untrue – Sanwo-Olu

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the opponent of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, in the governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State has debunked the governor’s allegations against him. Sanwo-Olu said he was neither admitted for mental-illness nor arrested in the United States for spending fake dollars. It will be recalled that while addressing a world press conference ahead of the primary election expected to hold on Monday, Ambode said:

Why I Am Not Supporting Ambode For Second Term —Tinubu

The National Leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has opened up on withdrawing support for the second term ambition of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, noting that the embattled Governor deviated from the master plan for the development of the state. In a statement this evening, Asiwaju also hinted on the adoption of direct primaries for the conduct of Monday’s governorship primaries of the party, saying it exemplifies his commitment to democracy and returning power to the people.

Buhari Visits Plane Crash Survivors

President Muhammadu Buhari Sunday visited the survivors of the two Air Force jets that crashed in Abuja on Friday during rehearsals for Nigeria’s 58th Independence celebration. The president visited the two surviving co-pilots at the Defence Intelligence Agency Hospital, Abuja where they were receiving treatment. During the visit, President Buhari praised the two survivors for their service to the nation and wished them speedy recovery.

Two candidates, Mr Tonye Cole and Senator Magnus Abe, emerged winners of the parallel governorship primaries conducted by both factions of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State. Cole came out victorious in the indirect governorship primary held in Port Harcourt on Sunday when he polled 3,329 votes while his closest rival, Dr Dawari George, got 491 votes. Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs came a distant third with 38 votes while Abe got one vote. Eighteen votes were declared void by the Jafar Isah-led Rivers Governorship Primary Committee.

Dogara Absent At Independence Day Church Service

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, was on Sunday conspicuously absent at the interdenominational church service to commemorate Nigeria’s 58th independence held at the National Christian Centre, Abuja.

The theme of the service was “Harnessing our diversity for national development.” According to the programme of the event, Dogara had earlier been picked to read the service’s second lesson from 1 Corinthians 12:4-18 while the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, was meant to read the first lesson Exodus 13:8-13.

Governor Ayade Gets PDP Governorship Ticket After Massive Votes

All delegates from the 18 Local Government Areas of Cross River States have overwhelmingly voted for Governor Ben Ayade at today’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP)’s primary elections. This is even as all of them complained that they were not duely appreciated by the governor. The primaries were held at the UJ Esuene Stadium Calabar and Gov Ayade was the sole aspirants, others having been disqualified by the national zonal screening committee.

Adelabu Wins Oyo APC Governorship Primary

The All Progressives Congress in Oyo State on Sunday held its governorship congress at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan, with former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Adebayo Adelabu, emerging the party’s governorship candidate after other contestants stepped down for him. After the likes of Joseph Tegbe, who was touted as Goveror Abiola Ajimobi’s anointed candidate, and other aspirants willingly stepped down from the race, Adeniyi Akintola (SAN) refused to do so as he was adamant on a full primary.

Ghana’ll Soon Reopen 400 Nigerian-Owned Shops – Ekweremadu

The Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, has said respite is coming the way of the Nigerian business community in Ghana as the government of the West African country has promised to reconsider its policy on foreign businesses, following his intervention. Ekweremadu said the implementation of the policy had led to the shutting of over 400 shops owned by Nigerians in the Ashanti Region of Ghana

Aiteo’s Benedict Peters Wins Forbes Oil & Gas Leader Award

International business leader and founder of Aiteo Group, Benedict Peters was awarded Africa’s Oil and Gas Leader of the Year at the Forbes Best of Africa Gala which held at Forbes Headquarters, New York City on September 27, 2018. The award is an acknowledgement of Peters’ significant contribution to oil and gas development in Africa by visionary leadership, distinguished service and transformational realignment of a sector dominated by International Oil Companies. The Forbes Award also recognised Mr. Peters’ commitment to bettering the lives of people and societies across Africa by philanthropic engagement.

PENGASSAN Calls for Oil Industry Reform

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria has highlighted the need to reform the nation’s oil and gas industry in a bid to ensure economic development. PENGASSAN, in its Independence Day message to Nigerians, said the government must resolve to address the gaps in the legal framework guiding operations and activities in the oil and gas industry through the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill.

We Will Not Tolerate Cowardice, Army Warns Personnel

The Nigerian Army has warned that it will not tolerate acts of cowardice from its personnel deploy in operations as sanction awaits those found exhibiting such. Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, the Chief of Army Staff, gave the warning in an address to over 3,500 2018 77 Regular Recruits at the Falgore forest in Doguwa Local Government Area (LGA) of Kano State. The recruits participated in “Exercise Kun Gama’’ – a final exercise which is part of requirements for them to graduate as soldiers, after six months training.

150,000 Persons Displaced By Flood In Bayelsa – NEMA

No fewer than 150,000 persons have been displaced by flood in Bayelsa, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Sunday disclosed. Mr Yakubu Suleiman, Co-ordinator, Emergency Operation Centre E, Rivers/Bayelsa Territory of NEMA disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa. Suleiman said that several homes, farmlands, schools and churches were submerged in the affected communities across eight Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state. He said the agency was taking inventory of the affected persons to ensure that they were free from diseases.

Senator Dafinone is Dead

Senator David Dafinone is dead. He died on Sunday morning in Lagos. He was aged 91. Speaking to Vanguard, his son Ede Dafinone, who confirmed the passage of the late administrator, described his father as a man who will be greatly missed. “He was a father who stood by us no matter what and he sacrificed so much for us and the nation,” he said on phone.

Danish, American Coaches to Train 100 Nigerian Coaches

Five Coaches from Europe and America are expected to train no fewer than 100 selected coaches from across the country with majority from Lagos State at a football Coaching Clinic in Lagos. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Yagazie Foundation, Chinedu Ezirim, made the disclosure when he led a delegation of the NGO on a visit to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) office in Lagos on Sunday.

Cristiano Ronaldo Finally Addresses Rape Allegations

Cristiano Ronaldo has described the rape allegations levelled against him as “fake news”. The allegations reported in German paper Der Spiegel state that the football star raped Kathryn Mayorga, a model turned teacher at the Palms Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on the 13th of June, 2009. According to the lawsuit filed by the plaintiff, he had invited her and her friend to the penthouse suite ‘to enjoy the view of the Las Vegas Strip’ and raped her in the bathroom.

Johnson Ups The Pressure As UK’s May Gathers Fractious Party

British Prime Minister Theresa May and her allies called for unity Sunday after former colleague Boris Johnson hijacked the opening of their Conservative party’s annual conference with another attack on the government’s Brexit plan. Former foreign minister Johnson, long tipped as a successor to May, used a newspaper interview to condemn her plan for close economic ties with the EU as “deranged” and “preposterous”. He is among a group of eurosceptics in her Conservative party who are using the four-day gathering in Birmingham, central England, to make the case for a looser trade agreement.

White House Denies ‘Micromanaging’ Inquiry into High Court Pick

US President Donald Trump hit back Sunday at suggestions his administration is trying to “micromanage” the FBI investigation of controversial Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, accusing opposition Democrats of being interested only in obstruction. Trump on Friday had ordered the new FBI investigation into sexual assault allegations against Kavanaugh, as the Senate delayed a final vote on his confirmation as the key ninth member of the Supreme Court.